Over the last decade, organizations have been dealing with E-Commerce sites and virtual marketplaces. We’ve seen a wide-scale utilization of business tools driven by the internet such as dropshipping, affiliate marketing, social media influencing, and much more. Those who are successful have inspired others to take action and grow the industries as well as the requirements that virtual infrastructures need to keep up. For example, retail stores are adopting and dominating the E-Commerce sector which has invoked motivation for new entrepreneurs to initiate their approach. When an E-Commerce site becomes successful, it needs scalable technology to accommodate its customers. 

This is E-Commerce 101; both marketing and delivery of services don’t need to happen in the physical world. Every E-Commerce site aspires to have a place in the virtual Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue. Everything you need to market, scale, and sell through sites is available online and it is only made possible through the technology behind the screen. Whether you’re looking to launch a website, app, web app, or anything of the sort, you should understand the program requirements to make you a serious contender in the E-Commerce sector.

This will ultimately start with drafting a “tech stack” which is a list of every piece of technology and its purpose that will go into launching and operating your single application. Firstly, you want to focus on the two components (or layers) necessary to base your stack around:

1. Front-end/Client-end: What will your client see and have access to whilst using your system? You'll need frameworks and development languages for the client side to create the appeal. This goes back to why UI/UX is crucial for development— you need your application to be engaging and keep users coming back.

2. Back-end/Server-end: What will allow your application to function? Various back-end languages exist (PHP, Ruby, Java, . Net, etc). The implementation of these languages will interconnect to ensure a smooth operation. For E-Commerce, this is how the program will be able to store and keep information secure in the database. 

Technology stacks are crucial for determining the components that will construct the final product and how well that product can perform. When it comes to building an E-Commerce site, some tools will serve you better than others. Ultimately, a well-done stack will show: 

• A summary of the programming languages, tools, and frameworks that the developer will require to interface the application. 

• The degree to which the system will be able to meet objectives for the business and assist with projects.

• A plan for scalability: What level of traffic do you anticipate? Will you run serverless? You’ll want to have an understanding of the application's anticipated workload.

• Will data be stored in the cloud? Or can it be stored locally?

• Is the app on an enterprise level? Or is the solution more lightweight?

• How will the application perform on the devices it’s intended for?

• How clearly defined is the end goal? Developers will need this to deliver an adequate result.

Now that we’ve identified the areas to consider for a tech stack, let's move on to the best frameworks and programming languages that developers can use for your E-Commerce site:

Front-end: These are the development tools that will build what the user can see and interact with when they enter your site.

• JavaScript: The most commonly used programming language for the front end due to its ability to generate interactivity for static HTML pages. Additionally, it is flexible when integrated with other languages and frameworks. 

• React.js: This is the most used framework when creating the interactive elements of a site. E-Commerce sites such as Tesla, Airbnb, Netflix, Uber, and The New York Times were all built with React.js. Many factors contribute to this wide-scale usage but the main draws include the ease of adoption, versatility, and speed of software development.

• Node.js: An open-source (code is easily accessed and can be modified) environment that is compatible with other platforms to build front-end and back-end solutions based on the JavaScript engine. The specific engine it runs on is chrome v8 which will convert code from JavaScript into machine code. Essentially, the reasons behind its use come down to Node.js being lightweight, highly scalable, and data-intensive.

Angular: This front-end framework is made for building mobile, web, or desktop applications. Being open-source and TypeScript-based makes it cost-effective and transparent when expressing the components of the application. Additionally, google houses a majority of the development team which increases its credibility.

Back-end: These are the tools that developers will use for the architecture, In E-Commerce, this consists of: managing orders, organizing products, web page edits, payments, registration, SEO, and more. To perform these responsibilities, look at:

• C#: This programming language is general-purpose and is used to build many kinds of applications and programs such as native apps, websites, cloud-based services, games, and much more. 

• PHP: This is a back-end language mainly used for website applications due to its role as an open-source as well as a general-purpose scripting language. This means that the language is highly adaptable in terms of compatibility and scalability. Additionally, as an open-source is it free which would make development costs manageable. 

• Java: A general-purpose, class-based, object-oriented language meant to build highly advanced software for a range of systems and devices. Like JavaScript, it can run on almost any platform. 

There are a variety of frameworks with Java that ensure the efficiency of implementation and operation. One of the most commonly used is Spring which further streamlines the Java programming process. It is another open-source framework that will assist developers when building Java applications. It will however require a level of expertise as Spring is a complex system to navigate. The difference is of course that Java is a programming language and not a programming script.

What’s Best For You?

There are many more front and back-end languages and frameworks that make up technology stacks. If you’ve gone the route of developing your E-Commerce site without the help of an outside consultant, it’ll be wise to start with a pre-existing stack. Here are three that are the most commonly used:

1. Python and Django: Highly ranked option for E-Commerce startups as it is highly scalable which will be beneficial as the traffic of your site grows. In terms of back-end functioning, this is going to be a secure environment that is ready to handle the volume. Lastly, the web server that developers typically go to when using this stack is Apache and for management of the database, there is PostgreSQL or MySQL.

2. MEAN (Mongo DB, Express, Angular, and Node.js): This blend of systems is frequently used for constructing online stores. However, for bigger-scale applications, it won’t be your best option.

3. LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP): This stack is great for websites and web apps as well as simply getting your project off the ground quickly. 

After you’ve chosen a stack, there are a few more steps you’ll need to take to reach an optimal outcome:

Identify Requirements: Every project has its specifications in terms of what it needs and the resources available. For example, your store may need to be accessed on a mobile app or have an automated supply chain invoice system.

Time to Market (TTM): How long until your concept is reality? Commerce is a highly competitive industry, as a startup, you want to build this credibility with your customers as soon as possible. Don’t stall the development process over hesitation instead define your ideal and get logistics in place. For example, if you think the Python and Django stack is your best option then identify the number of developers you’ll need to get started.

Scalability: This is a pillar of E-Commerce and whether you’re a startup or starting a new initiative, you’ll want to envision how it will continue to build. This is going to influence the choice of the technology stack as you’re thinking long-term. 

The Team Behind You: In the end, the developers working to build your system are going to dictate the quality of the outcome. Since this factor holds so much power, it has led to nearly 60% of companies outsourcing software development.

Finally

Technology stacks are your organization's key to freedom and a shield from headaches. Project development is very complex and can become volatile when faced with a lack of organization. Define your ideals in terms of languages, programming, and frameworks that will give your developers a running start in the success of your project. 

Every obstacle has a way through and when it comes to technology this is something you realize over time. An outsourced team of experienced IT technicians can save you a lot of time and money in comparison to taking on a project with an in-house team. 

Written By Ben Brown

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